As lead womens educator at Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns in San Diego, Tina Bird sees plenty of health benefits among the new moms who take part in the hospitals Baby and Me yoga classes.

She said many new parents have lots of anxiety and stress, but practicing yoga on a regular basis helps relax the mind and body. Some people may find it improves sleep, and the relaxation it offers can release stress and allow weight loss to happen naturally.

During class, parents are being given the skills to help them reduce anxiety, resulting in relaxation, said Bird. Calmer parents often result in babies that cry less.

But its not just moms of little ones who can reap yogas health benefits. Yoga can be done at any age, and it boosts the body in many good ways.

Bird said yoga postures and exercises focus on all parts of the body. The result is improved muscle tone and increased flexibility with little impact on the joints.

According to Yoga Journal, taking joints through their full range of motion can play a part in preventing degenerative arthritis or help prevent disability by squeezing and soaking areas of cartilage that may not always get used.

Karen Sothers, who teaches mindfulness-based yoga and meditation at Scripps Center of Integrated Medicine, said one of the focuses of yoga is balancing the body where its weak. For instance, she said, if someone has tight hamstrings, it can contribute to back pain. She said yogas bends and twists can strengthen areas that are weak and lead to less pain.

She said yoga also focuses on teaching balance, which can be helpful for those who are older by preventing fewer falls that could result in bone breaks or fractures.

In addition, she said, yoga improves blood circulation, which can decrease the workload on the heart.

Yoga Journal also reports that those who regularly get their heart rates into the aerobic range can lessen the risk of heart attack and can relieve depression. While not every yoga class will take the heart to that range, it can happen if the class is vigorous.

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Yoga offers health benefits for all ages